NTSB releases final report on crash of de Havilland DHC-3.
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Press Release Summary:
According to the NTSB, probable cause for the crash of a de Havilland DHC-3 in Soldotna, Alaska, on July 7, 2013, was the operator’s failure to determine actual cargo weight, leading to loading and operation of airplane outside of its weight and center of gravity limits. Contributing to the accident was FAA's failure to require weight and balance documentation for this type of air taxi flight. Flight was headed from Soldotna to a lodge 90 miles away when airplane stalled and crashed on takeoff.
Original Press Release:
NTSB Releases Final Report on 2013 Crash of de Havilland DHC-3 in Soldotna, Alaska
The National Transportation Safety Board found that the probable cause for the crash of a de Havilland DHC-3 in Soldotna, Alaska, on July 7, 2013, was the operator’s failure to determine the actual cargo weight, leading to the loading and operation of the airplane outside of its weight and center of gravity limits.
Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s failure to require weight and balance documentation for this type of air taxi flight.
The flight was headed from Soldotna to a lodge 90 miles away when the airplane stalled and crashed on takeoff. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire and the pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured.
A video of the airplane’s taxi, takeoff roll and takeoff was recovered from a passenger’s personal electronic device. An NTSB video study indicated that shortly after takeoff, the airplane’s angle of attack continually increased as the airplane’s airspeed decreased from about 68 mph to about 44 mph over a period of about 8.5 seconds. About 11 seconds after takeoff, airspeed and angle of attack reached values consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane rolled right-wing-down and impacted the ground several seconds later.
The weight of the cargo recovered from the crash site, and determination of the weight of cargo destroyed in the impact and post-crash fire, showed the cargo weight was about 418 pounds higher than the cargo weight stated on the load manifest, resulting in a center of gravity aft of the limits for the airplane.
Read the full report here: www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20130707X14623&key=1.
Contact: NTSB Public Affairs
490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594
Eric Weiss
(202) 314-6100
eric.weiss@ntsb.gov
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged with determining the probable cause of transportation accidents, promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.
